Lake Victoria

:This page is about the African lake. For the Australian lake, see Lake Victoria.

Ecology and social impacts

Lake Victoria plays a vital role in supporting the millions of people living around its shores, in one of the most densely populated regions on earth.

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The ecosystem of Lake Victoria and its surroundings have been badly affected by human influence. During the 1950s, the nile perch (Lates niloticus) was introduced into the lake's ecosystem in an attempt to improve the yields of fishing in the lake. The nile perch proved totally devastating to the local ecosystem – of the hundreds of endemic species, many are now extinct. Further, the initial good returns on nile perch catches has diminished dramatically. Currently, the nile perch is being overfished. It is reported that some populations of endemic species have increased again.

Related Topics:
Ecosystem - 1950s - Lates niloticus - Endemic

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An eco-problem with a happier outcome was the fight against the huge increase of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), a native of the tropical Americas, which forms thick mats of plant causing difficulties to transportation, fishing, hydroelectic power generation and drinking water supply. By 1995 90% of the Ugandan coastline was covered by the plant. With mechanical and chemical control of the problem seeming unlikely, the mottled water hyacinth weevil, (Neochetina eichhorniae) was bred and released into the lake with very good results.

Related Topics:
Water Hyacinth - 1995 - Uganda - Neochetina eichhorniae

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